Tag: change

This time last year I started to develop a 3 part video series on what I believe is the real reason why people fail at following through on their New Year’s resolutions.

Then during a recent call to my brother he pointed out that I too had dropped the ball and failed on putting together parts 2 and 3 of the series…

Let’s face it, as great as they may seem- New Years resolutions do not work. According to a study done in 2007 at the University of Bristol 80 percent of people who make New Years resolutions have failed by January 20th.

The study followed 3000 individuals whom in my opinion were destined to fail before they began.

At the onset of the study only 52 percent of those involved were confident they would follow through and stick to their resolution. That’s a little less than half of the gents in the study that decided from the start they wouldn’t make it. Talk about setting yourself up for failure.
 

Why is it New Years resolutions are so hard to follow through with?

 
Most people (me included) have amazing intentions of kicking the New Year off on the right foot, wiping the slate clean and accomplishing some major goals. Only to wind up in our old routines a few days later, goals and aspirations pushed aside until next year.

Today’s date is January 17, leaving us 3 days until most give up on what we set out to accomplish earlier in the year. I read somewhere it takes 21 days to adopt a new habit into your routine. Therefore our goal over the next 3 days is to take a look at the mindset behind lifestyle change in order to make it past January 20th and beyond.

If you were one of the smart people that already knew resolutions didn’t work and decided not to set any goals or resolutions for yourself this year, this will be your opportunity to start now and do it right.
 

Getting back on track

 
As I set out to do last year, let’s get at it and tackle the first step in the 3 Phases to any Lifestyle Change; Realization of the Need for Change.

There is a big difference between the simple awareness of not being what you once were, and the admission that your current lifestyle and waistline are going to cut years off your life. Only the latter will propel you into taking the necessary steps towards change because realization forces you to take full responsibility for your lifestyle and your body.

A colleague of mine use to treat a patient for years and throughout their time together had tried on numerous occasions to get his patient to quit smoking- but nothing worked.

Then one day the patient walks in and my friend can tell that he has quit smoking. His skin looked more alive and his clothes and hair smelled better. The Doctor congratulated him and asked, “What after all these years inspired you to quit? “

The patient looked back towards my friend and said, “I’ve got emphysema, I had to quit.”

This was his realization of the need for change. He finally decided to quit smoking because he had to. His doctor told him if he didn’t give up smoking, he wouldn’t be able to breathe.

Does this seem like an extreme example? Not really… Think of the countless number of times you’ve heard of someone who waits until they have a heart attack or triple bypass surgery before they start to eat well and exercise.
 

Why wait for the heart attack?

 
Take some time today, look in the mirror and ask, “What aspect (or aspects) of my life can I improve upon?” Then write them down. Once you’ve written it down, sift through and come up with some attainable goals.

The realization of the need for change is the first step in accomplishing a lasting lifestyle change. And because I made a promise to myself and you, I’ll be back tomorrow with step 2 (Planning) of the 3 steps to change and show you what to do with the goals you’ve written down.
 

For a quick explanation have a look at the video below:

Yours in health,

Sean

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Change and the Force of Nature

 
It seems that expressing my thoughts on transformation through change is facilitated somewhat by the fact that I am currently visiting relatives on the coast of Maine. The sights, sounds and smells of the Atlantic Ocean bring a sense of tranquility and relaxation.

It is hard to believe that within minutes the force of nature could change the peaceful landscape. I have experienced the fury and destruction caused by violent thunderstorms, high seas and even lived through a tornado that destroyed numerous cottages that were in its way.

Living on the ocean can be peaceful and yet very unpredictable, as far as the forces of nature go. We always need to be well prepared should nature decide to rear its nasty head and let us city folk feel its incredibly devastating power.

As I reflect more on what I have just expressed, I am fascinated with the idea that life itself is quite similar to the unpredictable forces of nature. From my vantage point, I would have to say that one of the things I love about life, besides “life” itself, is its unpredictability and all that this brings to our lives.
 

The Unpredictability of Change

 
One thing for sure is that none of us know what lies ahead. Unlike the weather, there is no technology to predict what is in store for us. And unless we decide to try to improve our lot in life by implementing a specific planned change (i.e. health/exercise program), we’re setting sail without our navigation systems turned on.

What I have come to learn over the years is the only security we truly have is the belief in our unique talents, our capabilities and ourselves. We all have the incredible resilience to make amazing comebacks, no matter the situation. Mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually- no challenge cannot be overcome.

Most of us will have ample opportunity to demonstrate a certain amount of courage in our lives. It is at these times whereby we grow immensely as a person, no matter our age. Personal struggle is often seen as an opportunity to change for the better. I have adopted an attitude or mind-set that any change whether it is a loss of a job, a life-threatening illness, a promotion, a job transfer, etc… can be an opportunity for personal growth and development.

There are many books written about adapting to change that outline key steps to take when encountering a new situation. I would like to give you my own perspective on this subject, together with a number of ideas and techniques that I have personally found useful along my journey of adapting to life changing events.
 

A Gift of Change

 
I have sought out the services of specialists in change management, been mentored and coached by one of the best in the field and have developed, through trial-and-error, my own techniques. This is why I can say without doubt that change, no matter what the type, should be looked at as the most invaluable “gifts” you will ever receive.

The very next time you encounter any change in your life, take this gift, unwrap it slowly and look for the special benefits that lie within. May I suggest that you be very patient as it sometimes takes days, weeks and even months to realize what the gift actually is. Once you have defined your gift, I recommend that you nurture it for all it is worth and document the benefits to life that gradually unfold over time.

Unfortunately there isn’t a way to escape the need to adapt to change. Whether it happens unexpectedly or is planned, you cannot hide from it. It must be dealt with.

I learned very quickly I had a better chance to capitalize on the benefits of change if I was operating from a position of strength. The process of change itself is an opportunity for personal growth and development. I found that new situations were what I needed to operate out of my comfort zone and grow. Doing this resulted in increased levels of self-esteem and self-confidence. If I had a set back, I learned from my mistakes and kept adapting.

As I reinforced above, the more we believe in ourselves, our unique talents, our special abilities and our competencies- the better the chance we have of benefiting from any forth coming changes.
 

Choose to Change

 
Even if the change is one we choose to make, and know is a good change; the transition from the old way to the new way is never easy. This certainly applies to starting up an exercise program. The advantage though is self-initiated changes give us the time to work out a strategy to ensure we gain maximum benefit.

I am sure that for many people, thinking about implementing change in their life as simple as an exercise/health program, can be like standing on the edge of a pool wanting to jump in and go for a swim but waiting for someone to push them in. Fear of the unknown or in this case, the idea of cold water, frequently blocks people from making the change they know will be beneficial in the long run.

Research shows that most successful change happens when the person looking towards potential benefits arising from the planned change initiates it. Do not be the one caught saying, “If only someone had pushed me”, when it may be too late. Jump right in and choose to change.

Below are steps to help initiate change with respect to improving your overall health/fitness (they can be applied to any aspect of life):

The only way to ensure growth; both personally and professionally is to initiate change at opportune times in our life. Yes, the type and timing of change is relevant to any potential successes that may result from our efforts but regardless of whether we choose or it is chosen for us, we must embrace it. The only real security we have in today’s fast and ever changing world is the belief in ourselves, the belief we can do anything and be anything, no matter what life throws at us.

Keep changing, improving and do not settle for mediocrity. Change is a gift to be unwrapped, nurtured and implemented into our lives. Opportunities come to those who accept and adopt to change. Those that sit around, wait and complain will be left behind.

To your success,

Coach Mike

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